Kemish was helping Engineers Harvey, Shepherd, and Leading Fireman Barrett in Boiler Room No. 5 when the bulkhead between No. 5 and 6 collapsed. Kemish escaped and made his way up to the Boat Deck and escaped in Lifeboat 9.

After the disaster, Kemish continued serving at sea until the 1930's, serving whenever possible on coal burning ships for health reasons. He also corresponded with Walter Lord, during the research for the book A Night to Remember.